Blog #5

Blog #5

From chapter 2 I picked 3 quotes because they go so well together. The first two are on page 19. “We are invigorated by challenge, strengthened by working toward it, and ennobled by attaining it.” And “Challenge in the classroom gives roots and wings to young dreams. It prepares learners with the substance, habits, and confidence necessary to move toward their dreams.” The third one is on page 22 quoted from Educating Esme “I aim too high probably. But if I don’t aim, how will I hit anywhere near the target.” These three statements touched me because I had something interesting happen when I was in field the first semester with older grades. My cooperating teacher gave me 2’s for both articulates clear academic expectations and communicates effectively. Then she wrote “Initial instructions could be in more kid friendly language.” For the next few weeks I kept reflecting on and replaying the different lessons my partner and I taught and many of my interactions with the students, trying to grasp what the teacher meant by this. We were teaching social studies to a fifth grade class. I did use new vocabulary but I would use it in a sentence and also explain what the new words meant using vocabulary the students were already familiar with. There were two ELL students but one was at the top of the class in every subject and the other we would work with one on one when it was needed. There was no differentiation in this class and the students spent most of their time working on work sheets. I feel that too often teachers and adults in general talk down or at children instead of talking to or with them. Children will bring themselves up or down to our expectations. If our expectations are low the student may feel that we don’t think they are capable and only do what is asked or required of them, coming down to our expectations. If we set our expectations high then give the students the support they need to reach those expectations we will all come away from the experience better, stronger, more capable people. As I look back on that teaching experience there is only one thing I would change and that is one of the lessons we did that need more scaffolding. It was a very interactive, group participation type of lesson. This class was not use to working together in small groups. I would still talk to the students the same way I did and with my new class and my own children I will watch for ways to increase their vocabulary and my own. I know I will make mistakes and hopefully learn from them. I know my students will make mistakes and hopefully learn from them. But by continually pushing our selves further than we think we can go is the only way to grow.

From chapter 3 I chose a quote on page 30 that I feel also goes with the ones from chapter 2 “…opportunity is more closely related to exhilaration than drudgery. Opportunity requires hard work, but it is work with a purpose- it is work in pursuit of a dream.” It is easy to settle into our comfort zones and coast through life, but think of all the amazing things we could do if we challenged our selves. Becoming an intern has been such an amazing opportunity but I almost didn’t apply. I knew how competitive it was going to be, sixty four openings and over one hundred and twenty applications, and I knew how hard I would have to work this summer while me kids are at home. But I am so glad I applied. I have learned so much about myself and my family. I want to teach my students and own children how to take healthy risks and develop their talents so that they can someday look back on their amazing lives with no regrets, no asking themselves what if I had…? I want them to live their dreams.